The 4-H Ontario Ambassador program provides youth with advanced level training in leadership, citizenship, communications and public relations. Ambassadors put their energy and 4-H experiences to work recruiting new members and sharing the 4-H story. Throughout 2018, each of 4-H Ontario’s Ambassadors will submit blog entries about their experiences in the program. The 4-H Ontario Ambassador Program is sponsored by FS. 
Submitted by Andrea Dohner, 4-H Ontario Youth Ambassador from Elgin 4-H Association
And So It Begins
Excited. Nervous. Proud. Thankful. These are just some of the emotions running through me as I think about the training weekend we just attended, and the year to come as 2018 4-H Ontario Ambassadors. 
As an Ambassador, I am Excited to be able to travel the province advocating for the program I have come to love. I am excited to share my 4-H story to everyone I meet, whether they are current members/leaders, alumni, or corporations, and especially to people who aren’t familiar with the 4-H program. However, as an Ambassador, I am also Nervous to put myself out there, and embark on this journey to share my story and inspire others to join. Proud. As a previously very shy girl, I am very proud to have come this far and to have taken this next step out of my comfort zone. In 2011, my parents signed me up for my first club, the Dairy Club, not knowing how I would react to 4-H. Little did they, nor I, know that I would soon fall in love with 4-H and everything it has to offer. In 2016, I attended my first provincial opportunity; Future Leaders in Action (FLIA). FLIA was easily the best week of my life because it was the week of change and new experiences. There I met some of the most wonderful people, learned how to facilitate my own events, and most importantly I learned how to be confident in myself and my ideas. When I went to FLIA I was still the shy girl, but when I left FLIA I was a more confident young woman who strived to push herself out of her comfort zone every chance she could and to be the best version of herself. Thankful. I am so thankful to my parents for pushing me to join 4-H and for believing in me even when I didn’t. I am thankful to the Elgin County 4-H Association, my home, for supporting me in all of my adventures and opportunities. To my leaders for pushing me at every meeting, even when I begged them not to. To my friends at FLIA for making my first camp so rewarding, life changing, and memorable. To my friends at 4-H Ontario for running every event and doing everything you do, you are amazing! To all of the sponsors – nothing would be possible without you, you change people’s lives daily. To FS, the sponsor of the ambassador program, thank you for your unconditional support as we embark on this journey. And finally, to my Ambassador team, thank you for making training weekend so wonderful and for making me excited for the year we have ahead of us! Here’s to an amazing year with new opportunities, new friends, and new connections.